60 Years of Bank Holiday Fun
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In 1950 Irlam Urban Council and the Parks committee arranged entertainment in the local parks for families that stayed at home during August Bank Holiday Monday. From these small entertainments that started as an experiment with Punch and Judy shows, it expanded to become what we all know nowadays as the Irlam Festival or Summer Show.
The Summer Show started being staged in and around various venues in the district and was increasing in size each year it was held. By the early 1960’s as well as being the social highlight in the districts calendar the show was moved onto the bigger venue of Princes Park. The first time the show was held in the park was in 1964 and this was also the first time the festival held a firework display as the finale of a fun filled day.
The show was at it’s biggest during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when it even had a couple of years where it expanded not only over the weekend but activities were taking place throughout the district during the week prior to the show culminating in the bank holiday Monday.
In these days it was much more of a community show with an annual swimming gala, a baby show and of course who can forget the Miss Irlam Show that was held throughout the 1970’s. For many years the show also included Urmston Model Club, wrestling demonstrations and entertainments from Cadishead Band a local pipe band.
Do you remember entering the swimming gala or the children’s sports day or even entering your pet in the pets corner. Were you Miss Irlam Summer show or did you win the baby show. If you have any memories, old photographs or anything to do with past summer shows please pass them to any Local History Members. We meet the third Wednesday of Each month.
Please contact Debbie debbie.yates@yahoo.co.uk for more details.
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